Post by @youreducationadvo

If your Present Levels say a student performs a skill with “40% accuracy,” my next question is simple: Where did the 40% come from? A percentage is not meaningful baseline data just because someone typed a % sign after a number. What assessment was used? How many opportunities were measured? Over how many days or sessions? Under what conditions? Who collected the data? Can the team actually produce the underlying data? Under IDEA, an IEP must include a statement of the child’s present levels of academic achievement and functional performance and measurable annual goals. Those pieces are connected. If you tell me the baseline is 40% and write a goal for 80%, the team should be able to explain and support how it determined that starting point. Otherwise, how are we going to reliably measure whether the student actually made progress? And no, “teacher reports that the student is at approximately 40%” does not magically become objective baseline data. As an advocate, when I see percentages in Present Levels, I ask for the data behind them. Because we cannot meaningfully measure progress from a baseline we cannot substantiate. Parents: when you see a percentage in your child’s Present Levels, ask one question: “Can you show me the data used to calculate that?” That question can tell you a whole lot. *Disclosure: All name, schools, and identifying details have been removed or altered to protect privacy. This content was created in a one-party consent state where all parties agreed to record the meeting. The purpose of this post is educational and advocacy-based. #specialeducation #fape #iep #advocate #504plan